About St. Mary · Orwell, Ohio
St. Mary Church in Orwell, Ohio, is a Catholic parish located at 103 N. Maple Street in rural Ashtabula County. Originally a mission established in 1918 for a small, predominantly Polish farming community, the parish was formally organized on July 1, 1922, with the founding pastor Reverend Anthony J. Suwalski appointed by Bishop Joseph Schrembs. The worshipping community first gathered in private homes, then dedicated a remodeled one-room schoolhouse as its church on April 1, 1925. On January 1, 2025, St. Mary Parish merged with Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Creek to form the new Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish under the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, retaining both worship sites. Today the Orwell church continues to serve as the parish's 'Saint Mary Campus,' offering weekend and weekday Masses through the cold months of November through April.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin McCaffrey, V.F.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Mary Campus offers a small, warm rural Catholic community that has worshipped together for more than a century, with weekend Masses from November through April and weekday Masses on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The merged Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish continues a deep tradition of lay volunteering, devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and active ministries such as the Daughters of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, religious education for K–12, youth ministry, and a music ministry that welcomes new choir members and cantors.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at St. Mary Campus (November through April); May through October confessions are heard at Sacred Heart Campus
Parish History
St. Mary in Orwell traces its origins to 1918, when a Catholic mission was established for a small, predominantly Polish farming community. The mission grew into a parish on July 1, 1922, under founding pastor Reverend Anthony J. Suwalski, and Bishop Joseph Schrembs dedicated the remodeled Orwell Schoolhouse as St. Mary Church on April 1, 1925. The parish added a cemetery that same year and a rectory in the former Spellman house. On January 1, 2025, St. Mary merged with Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Creek to form Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish under the Diocese of Youngstown, retaining both worship sites.
- 1918 – St. Mary Mission established as an extension of St. Mary Church, Chardon.
- January 1922 – Rev. Anthony J. Suwalski appointed founding pastor by Bishop Schrembs.
- July 1, 1922 – Parish formally organized.
- April 1, 1925 – Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Schrembs.
- July 16, 1925 – First burial, John Gottlieb Hacker, in St. Mary Cemetery.
- 2009 – First shared administrator with Sacred Heart, Rock Creek.
- 2013 – Began sharing a pastor.
- January 1, 2025 – Merged with Sacred Heart to form Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish.
Meet the Pastor
Father Kevin McCaffrey is the pastor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, which includes the St. Mary Campus in Orwell and the Sacred Heart Campus in Rock Creek. He grew up in Cuyahoga Falls in the Cleveland Diocese and worked in banking before a 1993 conversion changed the course of his life. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown on May 25, 2002, by Bishop Thomas Tobin, and has served at Immaculate Conception in Ravenna, St. Mary in Massillon, Our Lady of Victory in Andover and St. Patrick in Kinsman, and SS. Philip & James in Canal Fulton. He has been pastor of the merged Orwell–Rock Creek parish since July 2023.
- Very Rev. Kevin McCaffrey, V.F. — Pastor (since July 2023)
- Mr. James Kovats — Permanent Deacon
- Deborah Scopacasa, D.Min. — Pastoral Associate
- Joy Leirer — Music Ministry
- Dorothy Drugatz — Secretary/Bookkeeper
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish offers a full religious education program for children, youth, and adults through its CCD program, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and adult faith formation offerings. Catechetical (educational), prayer, service and social events are planned throughout the year for high-school-age youth.
- CCD — Religious education for Kindergarten through 8th grade (Catechetical Sunday in September through Palm Sunday)
- Youth Ministry — Grades 9–12, including homeschoolers
- Sacramental Preparation — First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (2nd grade); Confirmation (8th or 9th grade, every other year)
- Adult Faith Formation — Various topics, themes and formats offered throughout the year
- Catechetical Ministry — Catechists teach CCD, sacramental prep, Focus on Faith Days, and serve on the OCIA team
- Focus on Faith Days — Parish-wide gatherings with Mass, meal, and breakout sessions
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry sees music as a powerful testimony of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, seeking to enhance the Mass and develop the musical talent of the parish. The choir leads the congregation in song and provides inspiration for participation in worship. New choir members and cantors are always welcome; contact the parish office to get involved.
- Choir and cantors
- Music Director: Joy Leirer
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be appointed to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion and the Precious Blood at Mass, and to bring Communion to the sick and homebound. The ministry stems from Christ's teaching at the Last Supper to serve one another. Prerequisites include being an exemplary Catholic, age 18 or older, having received the Sacraments of Initiation, being in a valid Catholic marriage if married, attending training, and arriving at least 15 minutes before the scheduled Mass.
Greeters and Ushers
Greeters and Ushers welcome the faithful at the church doors, assist with seating, take up the offertory collection, process the gifts, assist with communion processions, and hand out bulletins after Mass. The goal is for everyone to feel welcomed and that 'we are glad that they came.' Men, women, and young adults all serve in this ministry.
Parish Outreach & Fellowship
The merged parish continues a strong tradition of lay-led charity and community building, with the Orwell (St. Mary) and Rock Creek (Sacred Heart) communities sponsoring several longstanding organizations. A monthly Community Dinner open to all rotates between the two parishes, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. The high feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated each year with Holy Mass at Sacred Heart Church followed by a potluck dinner.
- Altar and Rosary Society (Rock Creek)
- Daughters of Mary (Orwell)
- St. Vincent de Paul Charity (Orwell/Rock Creek)
- Knights of Columbus – Orwell/Rock Creek (sponsors the monthly Community Dinner)
- Annual Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass and potluck at Sacred Heart Church
Sacraments
Information on sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation is published through the Religious Education program, with First Communion typically celebrated in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 8th or 9th grade. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) team helps adults enter the Church. Extraordinary Ministers also bring Communion to the homebound and hospitalized.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2nd grade, with parent/child sessions and a 'Jesus Day' retreat)
- Confirmation (8th or 9th grade, every other year)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound
Facilities: Saint Mary Campus
The Saint Mary Campus at 103 N. Maple Street in Orwell includes the church (the former one-room schoolhouse purchased in 1924), a parish hall, the rectory (the former Spellman house purchased in 1925), and St. Mary Cemetery on the same property. The parish hall can be reached at the same phone number as the church.
- Address: 103 N. Maple St., Orwell, OH 44076
- Phone: 440-437-6262
- Parish Hall: 440-437-6262
- St. Mary Cemetery: 103 N. Maple St., Orwell, OH 44076
Merged Parish: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
On January 1, 2025, Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown merged St. Mary Parish (Orwell) and Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Creek) into the new Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish (parish code 210, Ashtabula Deanery). The name retains Mary in the title and honors Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647, France), a Visitandine sister whose visions of Jesus and life's work promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart inspired the merged parish's charism.
- Effective date: January 1, 2025
- Decree issued by Bishop David J. Bonnar on November 22, 2024
- Two worship sites: Saint Mary Campus (Orwell) and Sacred Heart Campus (Rock Creek)
- Mailing address: 103 N. Maple St., Orwell, OH 44076-9507
- Deanery: Ashtabula
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the St. Mary Campus by phone or email, or follow the parish's Facebook page for news and events. The parish office and Music Ministry welcome inquiries about joining the choir, becoming a catechist, or scheduling sacraments.
- Phone: 440-437-6262
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: https://www.stmargaretmaryalacoque.org/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaintMaryChurchOrwell
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Anthony J. Suwalski1922 – founding pastor
Appointed by Bishop Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland; presided over the purchase of the old Orwell School, the dedication of the church on April 1, 1925, the purchase of the rectory, and the founding of St. Mary Cemetery.